Flood-gate.



No. 051,305. Patented June 5, I900.

' H. FUNK.

FLOOD GATE. Application filed Mar. 1, 1906.: v (No Model.) 2Sheets-Sheet l.-

No. 623L305. v Patented June 5, I900.

H. FUNK, FLOOD GATE.

Applica tion filed Mar. 1, 1900.) (No Model.)

. 2 Sheets-Sheet 2,

Q v N V glwuawto'n flak /uni,

B x a Z 7) aFl'M/flmfi J I THE NORRIS PETERS CO, FNOTDLITHQ, WASHANGYON.B C. v

5o hereto attached.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY FUNK, OF PANA, ILLINOIS.

FLOOD-GATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 651,305, dated June 5,1900.

Application filed March 1,1900. Serial No. 7,008. (No model.)

T0 atZZ whmn it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY FUNK, a citizen of the United States, residingat Pana, in the county of Christian and State of Illinois, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Flood-Gates; and I do herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

In inclosing farms and parcels of ground through which a gully extendsor stream runs provision must be had for rising water and the escape ofdrift, trash, and the like at the point where the fence crosses thegullyor stream; otherwise the portion of fence spanning the gully willbe carried away. It is customary to hinge the fence-panel extendingoverthe channel and to secure it by. fastenings which are automaticallyreleased either by pressure or a rise of water due to rain, a suddenthaw, or from any cause to permit the panel or gate to swing open andnot obstruct the passage of the waters and drift,said panel closingautomatically when the waters have subsided and all danger has passed.

This invention aims to improve, increase the efliciency, and render morecertain and definite flood-fences of the character aforesaid and toprovide fastenings adjustable in nature to release the hinged panel orgate when the Water has risen to any given height and capable ofapplication to any fence or gate no matter what may be its style ofconstruction and whether thehinged section be single or double.

The invention therefore relates more particularly to theinstrumentalities resorted to for securing the gate or gates andactuated by the rising waters to automatically release the gate or gateswhen the waters rise to a predetermined height to permit them to swingopen out of harms way and to close and become locked after all dangerhas passed.

For-a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and alsoto acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means foreffecting the result reference is to be had to the following descriptionand the drawings While the essential and characteristic feawhich thevane is pivoted. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the arm andvane, show ing the parts relatively adjustable. Fig. 5 is a detailperspective view of the catch when constructed to form a pivotal supportfor the vane. Fig. 6 is a detailperspective View of a simple form ofcatch. Fig. 7 is aperspective view of the adjustable bar to which thelatch is pivoted. Fig. 8 is a perspective View of the keeper, omittingthe lug. Fig. 9 is a detail perspective view of a portion of the gate,showing one way of adj ustably connecting the latch thereto. Fig. 10 isa detail perspective View of a different form of latch.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription andindicated in all the views of the drawings by the samereference characters.

The portion of the fence extending across the gully, channel, or streamwill he designated hereinafter as the gate or gates, according as thepart is single or double. The instrumentalities for securing the gate orgates when closed are substantially alike for either single or doublegates, the arrangement only being somewhat different according to therelative location of the parts.

The posts at opposite sides of the gully or stream are indicated at 1and 2, the latter constituting the hinge-post and the former thelatch-post when a single gate 3 is em- I ends rise and when released, asby the waters subsiding, they gravitate and automatically close, as willbe readily understood.

The latch 9 consists of a bar pivoted at one end to either the gate 3 orthe gate 7 and is adapted to engage with a catch 10, applied to eitherthe post 1 or the gate 8. A keeper 11, applied to a batten of the gateto which the latch is pivoted, holds the same in proper position forcooperation with the catch 10. A vane 12, applied to the free end of thepivoted arm 13, is disposed to release the latch and liberate the gateor gates when the water rises to a dangerous point. A cam 14 is providedat the pivoted end of the arm 13 and is arranged to engage with thelatch and actuate it when the water rises and lifts the vane 12. Thevane consists of two blades disposed relatively at an obtuse angle andjoined at their longitudinal edges and in its simplest form may consistof a plate of metal bent intermediate of its longitudinal edges. Thisform of vane has been found to give the best results, since it presentsan inclined surface to the flowing water, which causes the vane to riseby a wedging action, as will be readily comprehended. By having the vaneadjustably connected with the arm 13 provision is had for releasing thelatch at any predetermined rise in the level of the water. All the partsforming elements of the locking mechanism are vertically adjustable, soas to effect a release of the gate or gates when the waters reach anydesired height.

The latch 9 may be pivoted directly to a cleat 15 of the gate, the pivotfastening adapted to be applied to said cleat at any point in itslength. This construction is the most simple; but in some instances itis preferred to pivotally connect the latch to a vertically-adjustablebar 16, which is adapted to be secured to the longitudinal rails of thegate or to the cleat 15 thereof in an adjusted position by means of aclamp-bolt 17, passing through a slot 18, formed in the bar 16. A keeper19 cooperates with the bar 16 to prevent its turning upon the clamp-bolt17 and insures a vertical movement of the bar 16 when adjusting iteither up or down.

The catch 10, applied to either the post 1 or gate 8, is verticallyadjustable and differently constructed, according to its location, andcomprises an offstanding catch portion 25 and base 20. In the form shownin Fig. 1 the catch extension 25 is centrally disposed with reference tothe base 20, which has its lower end vertically slotted, as at 21, toreceive a clamp-bolt 22, and its upper end slotted vertically, as at 23,to receive the guide pin or bolt 24. The catch shown in Figs. 5 and 6has the catch extension 25 at the upper end of the base-plate, which isslotted at 21 to receive a clamp-bolt, (not shown,) and the form shownin Fig. 5 is provided with a lug 30 to receive the pivot-fastening whenit is desired to attach the arm 13 thereto and with spurs a projectingfrom the rear side of the plate to enter the post and prevent the catchfrom turning on its securing-bolt. The catch shown in Figs. 2 and 10 isbest adapted to one of two cooperating gates, since it can be secured toan edge of a cleat or batten l) by means of a bolt 22, passing throughthe slot 21 of its base 20, the rear edge of the base resting againstone or more of the rails of the gate and preventing the catch fromturning upon its fastening-bolt 22. Alug 30" is formed in the anglebetween the catch extension 25 and plate 20 and -is apertured to receivethe pivot-fastening 0, upon which the arm 13 of the vane is mounted. Thecatch shown in Figs. 1 and 6 is used when the vane is pivoted to thegate, and when the vane is to be appliedto the latch-post the form ofcatch shown in Fig. 5 is preferred.

The keeper 11 has its end portions longitudinally slotted, one of theslots receiving a headed fastening 26 and the other slot having aclamp-bolt 27 passing therethrough and adapted to secure the keeper inan adjusted position. A lug 28 projects laterally from the lower endportion of the keeper 11, and the arm 13 is pivoted thereto. Hence thecam 14 maintains a determinate relation with reference to the latch 9,since the parts 11, 9, and 13 move together when effecting an adjustmentthereof.

The single gate 3 is limited in its closing movement by the projectingend of the latch 9 engaging with the post 1. When double gates areemployed, it is necessary to provide a stub-post 29 about midway of thebed of the stream, gully, or channel to limit the movement of the gate 8when closing, the gate 7 being limited when swinging shut by theprojecting portion of the latch 9 engaging with the gate 8. The bestresults are obtained by locating the catch remote from the swing end ofthe gate 8, as shown.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. In aflood-gate and in combination with the latch mechanism, a pivoted armhaving a cam portion disposed to engage with and effect a release of thelatch, and a vane having adjustable connection with the pivoted arm andcomprising blades disposed relatively at an obtuse angle, substantiallyas set forth.

2. In a flood-gate and in combination with the latch mechanism, a keeperfor the latchbar, means for securing the keeper in an adjusted position,and a vane having pivotal connection with the keeper and constructed tobe actuated by the rising water so as to effect a release of the latch,substantially as set forth.

3. In combination with a flood-gate, a vertically-adjustable catch, acorrespondingly adjustable latch, a keeper for the latch adjustablevertically, and avane pivoted to the pivoted to the said keeper,substantially as keeper and adapted to eflect a release of the setforth. 1o latch, and to be actuated by the rising water, In testimonywhereof I affix my signature substantially as set forth. in presence oftwo Witnesses.

4. In combination with aflood-gate, a catch, HENRY FUNK. [L. s.] a latchto cooperate with the catch, a keeper, Witnesses: means for securing thecatch, keeper and D. M. WHITE, latch when adjusted vertically, and avane D. M. KEYES.

